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Anthony Smith was murdered for “street level stuff,” not because of a video of Mayor Rob Ford appearing to smoke crack cocaine, neighbourhood sources have told the Star.

“(Anthony’s murder) had nothing to do with the video,” said a man who works in the Dixon housing complex who spoke on condition of anonymity over safety concerns.

Instead, the shooting appears to be over a months-old feud between two rival neighbourhood groups. Smith was at King Street’s Loki Lounge on March 28 with his friends from the Dixon and Islington area when they bumped into another group of young men they had a previous “beef” with.

In the weeks since the Star reported about a video of Mayor Rob Ford appearing to smoke crack cocaine — and published a picture of Ford alongside two victims of recent gun violence — speculation has run rampant that the mayor may be connected to a series of violent incidents in North Etobicoke.

That does not appear to be the case.

Most believe Smith was gunned down because of the group he was with and that he was not specifically targeted. His longtime friend, Muhammad Khattak, was also shot that night and survived.

Smith, 21, Khattak, 19, and another unidentified man are pictured with Ford in a photo standing in the driveway of a brick house. The photo was given to two Star reporters by men also trying to sell the video of Ford appearing to smoke crack and uttering a homophobic slur.

The Star reporters, as well as an editor from the U.S. website Gawker, have watched the video.

Ford has denied the existence of the video and says he does not smoke crack. He has also ignored allegations that his staff may have tried to obtain the video.

In another example of gun violence, one week ago a 27-year-old was shot in the leg on the 17th floor of 320 Dixon. He was shot outside unit 1701 and had apparently been with friends in unit 1703. Sources tell the Star that both of these addresses were identified by the mayor to his staff as areas where the crack video could be found.

People in the community say 1703 is a well known “open house” where groups of young people go to hang out at all hours of the day and night.

Those who live and work in the high rises say the victim was hit by accident, in a case of “friendly fire.” The man has been spotted in the area since with friends.

As well, Toronto Police have waded in on the case. Homicide investigators interviewed Ford’s recently fired chief of staff, Mark Towhey, after he went to the police with information that the mayor’s head of logistics, David Price, asked “hypothetically” if the location of the video was known, “What would we do?”

Price also told Towhey the video may have been the reason Smith was killed, a source told the Star.

While homicide investigators were assigned to the case, head of homicide Greg McLane told CP24 earlier this week the investigation is not connected to a murder, but that his detectives had certain expertise. Police sources supported this claim on Thursday.

While media reports have identified Smith as a drug dealer, a close friend is adamant he never sold drugs. The friend was also adamant that Smith did not shoot the video of Ford. Police are investigating whether the cellphone the video of the mayor was shot on originated with Smith, sources say.

The friend described Smith as a “good guy” who loved basketball and was fun to be around. The international scrutiny has been very difficult for his family, says the friend.

On Thursday, Toronto Police announced a second man had been arrested in Smith’s killing. Hanad Mohamed, 23, was arrested last Friday in Fort McMurray, Alta., after a nationwide warrant for his arrest was issued.

He has been charged with first-degree murder and will appear in a Toronto court Friday.

Nisar Hashimi, also 23, turned himself in April 4 after he was named as a suspect. He has been charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder in the death of Smith and Khattak.

Neighbourhood sources have told the Star there is a third person who was involved in the shooting. Toronto Police said Thursday they are not looking for a third suspect.

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